Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 12

Posted on September 5, 2022 by admin

This is a continuation of a consideration of the differences between the Masoretic text and the Septuagint, a translation of the Hebrew before Israel rejected Jesus as Messiah. The final clause of the first verse under consideration follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 53:10d (Tanakh)	Isaiah 53:10d (NET)	Isaiah 53:10d (NETS)	Isaiah 53:11a (Elpenor English)
and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand (בְּיָד֥וֹ) [Table].	and the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished through him (yāḏ, בידו).	And the Lord wishes to take away (ἀφελεῗν) [Table]	the Lord also is pleased to take away (ἀφελεῖν) from

I had begun to consider other occurrences of forms ἀφαιρέω (Table) in Isaiah to get a feel for any potential relationship between ἀφελεῖν (a form of ἀφαιρέω) and בְּיָד֥וֹ (yāḏ). Since a form of ἀφαιρέω was the translation of a form of סוּר (sûr) in two of the three examples I considered in another essay,¹ I have continued with those occurrences in Isaiah.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 27:9 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 27:9 (NET)	Isaiah 27:9 (NETS)	Isaiah 27:9 (Elpenor English)
By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged (יְכֻפַּ֣ר); and this is all the fruit to take away (הָסִ֣ר) his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up [Table].	So in this way Jacob’s sin will be forgiven (kāp̄ar, יכפר), and this is how they will show they are finished sinning [Note 23: and this [is] all the fruit of removing (sûr, הסר) his sin]: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand.	Because of this the lawlessness of Iakob will be removed (ἀφαιρεθήσεται). And this is his blessing, when I remove (ἀφέλωμαι) his sin, when they make all the stones of the altars broken pieces like fine dust, and their trees will not remain, and their idols will be cut down like a forest far away [Table].	Therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be taken away (ἀφαιρεθήσεται); and this is his blessing, when I shall have taken away (ἀφέλωμαι) his sin; when they shall have broken to pieces all the stones of the altars as fine dust, and their trees shall not remain, and their idols shall be cut off, as a thicket afar off.

Here both יְכֻפַּ֣ר (kāp̄ar) and הָסִ֣ר (sûr) were translated with forms of ἀφαιρέω in the Septuagint, ἀφαιρεθήσεται and ἀφέλωμαι respectively. There is one other occurrence of a form of כָּפַר (kāp̄ar) in Isaiah translated with a form of ἀφαιρέω in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 28:18 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 28:18 (NET)	Isaiah 28:18 (NETS)	Isaiah 28:18 (Elpenor English)
And your covenant with death shall be disannulled (וְכֻפַּ֚ר), and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.	Your treaty with death will be dissolved (kāp̄ar, וכפר); your agreement with Sheol will not last. When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by, you will be overrun by it.	lest it also take away (ἀφέλῃ) your covenant of death. And your hope regarding Hades will not remain; if a rushing storm comes, you will be trampled down by it.	except it also take away (ἀφέλῃ) your covenant of death, and your trust in Hades shall by no means stand: if the rushing storm should come upon you, ye shall be beaten down by it.

The final occurrence of a form of סוּר (sûr) in Isaiah translated with a form of ἀφαιρέω in the Septuagint follows.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 58:9 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 58:9 (NET)	Isaiah 58:9 (NETS)	Isaiah 58:9 (Elpenor English)
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD (וַֽיהֹוָ֣ה) shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away (תָּסִ֚יר) from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;	Then you will call out, and the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, ויהוה) will respond; you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’ You must remove (sûr, תסיר) the burdensome yoke from among you and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.	Then you shall cry out, and God (ὁ θεὸς) will listen to you; while you are still speaking, he will say, Here I am. If you remove (ἀφέλῃς) from you a bond and a stretching of the hand and a murmuring word	Then shalt thou cry, and God (ὁ Θεὸς) shall hearken to thee; while thou art yet speaking he will say, Behold, I am here. If thou remove (ἀφέλῃς) from thee the band, and the stretching forth of the hands, and murmuring speech;

The Masoretic text had וַֽיהֹוָ֣ה (Yᵊhōvâ) here. It was not corroborated in the Septuagint with κύριος. Though deciphering the manuscript is difficult for me, I think the Dead Sea Scroll version of Isaiah has ויהוה (Yᵊhōvâ) here. At least I’m reasonably convinced it is not אלהים (‘ĕlōhîm).

So far I haven’t convinced myself that בְּיָד֥וֹ (yāḏ) was the word or even the concept the rabbis translated with ἀφελεῖν (a form of ἀφαιρέω). The word בְּיָד֥וֹ (yāḏ) does seem to be in the Isaiah scroll of the Dead Sea scrolls. With a presumed date of 125 BCE (the modern designation for Before Christ, BC) this is not a simple matter of Masoretes altering the text after rejecting Jesus as Messiah.

I’ve belabored this point because I actually like the idea that the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in [Jesus’] hand. I appreciate the succinctness of this statement in the Masoretic text. And I’m not prepared to give it up without a fight. But I also appreciate the time capsule effect of the Septuagint, a glimpse into the rabbis’ understanding of biblical Hebrew before they rejected Jesus as Messiah, a cataclysm as devastating to Israel’s intellectual history as the worldwide flood was to antediluvian geography.

Who buried the Dead Sea scrolls?² Were they archivists preserving revered sacred texts for posterity? Or were they disposing of flawed texts in the only manner they thought worthy of disposing of a flawed text which also contained the Name יְהֹוָה (Yᵊhōvâ)? Though I think the latter explanation is more plausible, it doesn’t help me to know what they thought was flawed about the text. Nor does it help me to pick a side or choose a dog in this hunt.

I came across the following on Christian History for Everyman:

Rumor has it that the Dead Sea Scrolls contained a copy of Isaiah exactly matching the Isaiah found in our modern Bibles…It’s true that there was a report in 1947 that the Qumran…text of Isaiah matched the Masoretic text. It was retracted, however, in 1948…The scroll of Isaiah found at Qumran is a third text-type, matching neither the Septuagint (LXX) nor the Masoretic text.

Among the Qumran texts was a scroll of Jeremiah. This is very significant because the LXX version of Jeremiah is seven chapters shorter than the Masoretic, and what remains is in a different order!

The Dead Sea Scrolls backs up the LXX version, not our Masoretic Bibles.³

Mr. Pavao, the webmaster of Christian History for Everyman, cited The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia as his source for this information. I couldn’t confirm that online. I did find the following in “The Qumrān texts and other scrolls” in Britannica online:

The most important manuscripts from what is now identified as Cave 1 of Qumrān are a practically complete Isaiah scroll (1QIsaa), dated about 100–75 BCE, and another very fragmentary manuscript (1QIsab) of the same book. The first contains many variants from the Masoretic text in both orthography and text, and the second is very close to the Masoretic type and contains few genuine variants.

Another line in the same article was intriguing: “Several texts in the paleo-Hebrew script show that this script continued to be used side by side with the Aramaic script for a long time.”⁴ Here is an opportunity to find causes of textural variation I haven’t even begun to consider. First, however, I have many other examples of forms of ἀφαιρέω in Isaiah in the Septuagint to consider, mostly to keep all the data in one place, I suspect.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 4:1 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 4:1 (NET)	Isaiah 4:1 (NETS)	Isaiah 4:1 (Elpenor English)
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away (אֱסֹ֖ף) our reproach.	Seven women will grab hold of one man at that time. They will say, “We will provide our own food, we will provide our own clothes; but let us belong to you—take away (‘āsap̄, אסף) our shame!”	Seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes; just let your name be called upon us; take away (ἄφελε) our reproach.”	And seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own raiment: only let thy name be called upon us, [and] take away (ἄφελε) our reproach.

Here, the Hebrew word אֱסֹ֖ף (‘āsap̄) was translated ἄφελε (a form of ἀφαιρέω) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 7:20 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 7:20 (NET)	Isaiah 7:20 (NETS)	Isaiah 7:20 (Elpenor English)
In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume (תִּסְפֶּֽה) the beard.	At that time the Lord will use a razor hired from the banks of the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave the hair off the head and private parts; it will also shave off (sāp̄â, תספה) the beard.	On that day the Lord will shave with the great and drunken razor—which is beyond the river of the king of the Assyrians—the head and the hair of the feet, and he will cut off (ἀφελεῗ) the beard.	In that day the Lord shall shave with the hired razor of the king of Assyria beyond the river the head, and the hairs of the feet, and will remove (ἀφελεῖ) the beard.

Here, the Hebrew word תִּסְפֶּֽה (sāp̄â) was translated ἀφελεῖ (a form of ἀφαιρέω) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 8:8 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 8:8 (NET)	Isaiah 8:8 (NETS)	Isaiah 8:8 (Elpenor English)
And he shall pass (וְחָלַ֚ף) through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.	It will spill (ḥālap̄, וחלף) into Judah, flooding and engulfing, as it reaches to the necks of its victims. He will spread his wings out over your entire land, O Immanuel.”	and he will take away (ἀφελεῗ) from Judea any man who can lift his head or who is capable to accomplish anything; his camp will be such as to fill the breadth of your country. God is with us.	and he shall take away (ἀφελεῖ) from Juda [every] man who shall be able to lift up his head, [and every one] able to accomplish anything; and his camp shall fill the breadth of thy land, [O] God with us.

Here, the Hebrew word וְחָלַ֚ף (ḥālap̄) was translated ἀφελεῖ (a form of ἀφαιρέω) in the Septuagint. The rabbis, it seems, used their knowledge of what actually happened to unpack Hebrew idioms, metaphors or euphemisms for the Greek reader, including translating עִמָּֽנוּאֵֽל (ʿimmānû’ēl) μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν ὁ θεός, God is with us (NETS), [O] God with us (Elpenor English).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 9:14 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 9:14 (NET)	Isaiah 9:14 (NETS)	Isaiah 9:14 (Elpenor English)
Therefore the LORD will cut off (וַיַּכְרֵ֨ת) from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.	So the Lord cut off (kāraṯ, ויכרת) Israel’s head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day.	So the Lord took away (ἀφεῗλεν) from Israel head and tail, great and small in one day—	So the Lord took away (ἀφεῖλε) from Israel the head and tail, great and small, in one day: the old man, and them that respect persons, this is the head; and the prophet teaching unlawful things, he is the tail.

Here, the Hebrew word וַיַּכְרֵ֨ת (kāraṯ) was translated ἀφεῗλε(ν) (a form of ἀφαιρέω) in the Septuagint. The additional text in the Elpenor English version of the Septuagint is verse 15 in the Masoretic text and the BLB Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 16:2 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 16:2 (NET)	Isaiah 16:2 (NETS)	Isaiah 16:2 (Elpenor English)
For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out (מְשֻׁלָּ֑ח) of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.	At the fords of the Arnon the Moabite women are like a bird that flies about when forced from (šālaḥ, משלח) its nest.	For you will be as a nestling taken away (ἀφῃρημένος) from a bird that is flying, O daughter of Moab! And then, O Arnon,	For thou shalt be as a young bird taken away (ἀφηρημένος) from a bird that has flown: [even] thou shalt be [so], daughter of Moab: and then do thou, O Arnon,

Here, the Hebrew word מְשֻׁלָּ֑ח (šālaḥ) was translated ἀφηρημένος (a form of ἀφαιρέω) in the Septuagint.

I’ll continue this in another essay.

Tables comparing Isaiah 28:18; 58:9; 4:1; 7:20; 8:8; 9:14 and 16:2 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Isaiah 28:18; 58:9; 4:1; 7:20; 8:8; 9:14 and 16:2 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Isaiah 28:18 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 28:18 (KJV)	Isaiah 28:18 (NET)
And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.	And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.	Your treaty with death will be dissolved; your agreement with Sheol will not last. When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by, you will be overrun by it.

Isaiah 28:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 28:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ καὶ ἀφέλῃ ὑμῶν τὴν διαθήκην τοῦ θανάτου καὶ ἡ ἐλπὶς ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν ᾅδην οὐ μὴ ἐμμείνῃ καταιγὶς φερομένη ἐὰν ἐπέλθῃ ἔσεσθε αὐτῇ εἰς καταπάτημα	μὴ καὶ ἀφέλῃ ὑμῶν τὴν διαθήκην τοῦ θανάτου, καὶ ἡ ἐλπὶς ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν ᾅδην οὐ μὴ ἐμμείνῃ· καταιγὶς φερομένη ἐὰν ἐπέλθῃ, ἔσεσθε αὐτῇ εἰς καταπάτημα
Isaiah 28:18 (NETS)	Isaiah 28:18 (English Elpenor)
lest it also take away your covenant of death. And your hope regarding Hades will not remain; if a rushing storm comes, you will be trampled down by it.	except it also take away your covenant of death, and your trust in Hades shall by no means stand: if the rushing storm should come upon you, ye shall be beaten down by it.

Isaiah 58:9 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 58:9 (KJV)	Isaiah 58:9 (NET)
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;	Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;	Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond; you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’ You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.

Isaiah 58:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 58:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τότε βοήσῃ καὶ ὁ θεὸς εἰσακούσεταί σου ἔτι λαλοῦντός σου ἐρεῗ ἰδοὺ πάρειμι ἐὰν ἀφέλῃς ἀπὸ σοῦ σύνδεσμον καὶ χειροτονίαν καὶ ῥῆμα γογγυσμοῦ	τότε βοήσῃ, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς εἰσακούσεταί σου· ἔτι λαλοῦντός σου ἐρεῖ· ἰδοὺ πάρειμι. ἐὰν ἀφέλῃς ἀπὸ σοῦ σύνδεσμον καὶ χειροτονίαν καὶ ρῆμα γογγυσμοῦ
Isaiah 58:9 (NETS)	Isaiah 58:9 (English Elpenor)
Then you shall cry out, and God will listen to you; while you are still speaking, he will say, Here I am. If you remove from you a bond and a stretching of the hand and a murmuring word	Then shalt thou cry, and God shall hearken to thee; while thou art yet speaking he will say, Behold, I am here. If thou remove from thee the band, and the stretching forth of the hands, and murmuring speech;

Isaiah 4:1 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 4:1 (KJV)	Isaiah 4:1 (NET)
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.	And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.	Seven women will grab hold of one man at that time. They will say, “We will provide our own food, we will provide our own clothes; but let us belong to you—take away our shame!”

Isaiah 4:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 4:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπιλήμψονται ἑπτὰ γυναῗκες ἀνθρώπου ἑνὸς λέγουσαι τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν φαγόμεθα καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια ἡμῶν περιβαλούμεθα πλὴν τὸ ὄνομα τὸ σὸν κεκλήσθω ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄφελε τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν ἡμῶν	ΚΑΙ ἐπιλήψονται ἑπτὰ γυναῖκες ἀνθρώπου ἑνὸς λέγουσαι· τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν φαγόμεθα καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια ἡμῶν περιβαλούμεθα πλὴν τὸ ὄνομα τὸ σὸν κεκλήσθω ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς, ἄφελε τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν ἡμῶν
Isaiah 4:1 (NETS)	Isaiah 4:1 (English Elpenor)
Seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes; just let your name be called upon us; take away our reproach.”	And seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own raiment: only let thy name be called upon us, [and] take away our reproach.

Isaiah 7:20 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 7:20 (KJV)	Isaiah 7:20 (NET)
In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.	In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.	At that time the Lord will use a razor hired from the banks of the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave the hair off the head and private parts; it will also shave off the beard.

Isaiah 7:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 7:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ξυρήσει κύριος τῷ ξυρῷ τῷ μεγάλῳ καὶ μεμεθυσμένῳ ὅ ἐστιν πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὰς τρίχας τῶν ποδῶν καὶ τὸν πώγωνα ἀφελεῗ	ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ξυρήσει Κύριος τῷ ξυρῷ τῷ μεγάλῳ καὶ μεμεθυσμένῳ, ὅ ἐστι πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων, τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὰς τρίχας τῶν ποδῶν, καὶ τὸν πώγωνα ἀφελεῖ
Isaiah 7:20 (NETS)	Isaiah 7:20 (English Elpenor)
On that day the Lord will shave with the great and drunken razor—which is beyond the river of the king of the Assyrians—the head and the hair of the feet, and he will cut off the beard.	In that day the Lord shall shave with the hired razor of the king of Assyria beyond the river the head, and the hairs of the feet, and will remove the beard.

Isaiah 8:8 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 8:8 (KJV)	Isaiah 8:8 (NET)
And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.	And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.	It will spill into Judah, flooding and engulfing, as it reaches to the necks of its victims. He will spread his wings out over your entire land, O Immanuel.”

Isaiah 8:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 8:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀφελεῗ ἀπὸ τῆς Ιουδαίας ἄνθρωπον ὃς δυνήσεται κεφαλὴν ἆραι ἢ δυνατὸν συντελέσασθαί τι καὶ ἔσται ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτοῦ ὥστε πληρῶσαι τὸ πλάτος τῆς χώρας σου μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν ὁ θεός	καὶ ἀφελεῖ ἀπὸ τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας ἄνθρωπον, ὃς δυνήσεται κεφαλὴν ἆραι ἢ δυνατὸν συντελέσασθαί τι, καὶ ἔσται ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτοῦ ὥστε πληρῶσαι τὸ πλάτος τῆς χώρας σου· μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν ὁ Θεός
Isaiah 8:8 (NETS)	Isaiah 8:8 (English Elpenor)
and he will take away from Judea any man who can lift his head or who is capable to accomplish anything; his camp will be such as to fill the breadth of your country. God is with us.	and he shall take away from Juda [every] man who shall be able to lift up his head, [and every one] able to accomplish anything; and his camp shall fill the breadth of thy land, [O] God with us.

Isaiah 9:14 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 9:14 (KJV)	Isaiah 9:14 (NET)
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.	Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.	So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day.

Isaiah 9:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 9:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀφεῗλεν κύριος ἀπὸ Ισραηλ κεφαλὴν καὶ οὐράν μέγαν καὶ μικρὸν ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ	καὶ ἀφεῖλε Κύριος ἀπὸ ᾿Ισραὴλ κεφαλὴν καὶ οὐράν, μέγαν καὶ μικρὸν ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ, πρεσβύτην καὶ τοὺς τὰ πρόσωπα θαυμάζοντας (αὕτη ἡ ἀρχὴ) καὶ προφήτην διδάσκοντα ἄνομα (οὗτος ἡ οὐρά) [additional text is verse 15 in the BLB Septuagint]
Isaiah 9:14 (NETS)	Isaiah 9:14 (English Elpenor)
So the Lord took away from Israel head and tail, great and small in one day—	So the Lord took away from Israel the head and tail, great and small, in one day: the old man, and them that respect persons, this is the head; and the prophet teaching unlawful things, he is the tail.

Isaiah 16:2 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 16:2 (KJV)	Isaiah 16:2 (NET)
For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.	For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.	At the fords of the Arnon the Moabite women are like a bird that flies about when forced from its nest.

Isaiah 16:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 16:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔσῃ γὰρ ὡς πετεινοῦ ἀνιπταμένου νεοσσὸς ἀφῃρημένος θύγατερ Μωαβ ἔπειτα δέ Αρνων	ἔσῃ γὰρ ὡς πετεινοῦ ἀνιπταμένου νεοσσὸς ἀφηρημένος, θύγατερ Μωάβ. ἔπειτα δέ, ᾿Αρνῶν, πλείονα
Isaiah 16:2 (NETS)	Isaiah 16:2 (English Elpenor)
For you will be as a nestling taken away from a bird that is flying, O daughter of Moab! And then, O Arnon,	For thou shalt be as a young bird taken away from a bird that has flown: [even] thou shalt be [so], daughter of Moab: and then do thou, O Arnon,

¹ Isaiah 1:25; 10:13

² The Dead Sea Scrolls

³ Paul Pavao, “The Dead Sea Scrolls Version of Isaiah (and Jeremiah),” Christian History for Everyman

⁴ “The Qumrān texts and other scrolls,” Britannica

Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 3

Posted on June 27, 2021 by admin

Peter’s second Gospel proclamation concluded (Acts 3:24-26 NET):

And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced^[1] these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed’ [Table]. God raised up his servant^[2] and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”

A survey of the prophecies to which Peter alluded would be interesting but I won’t pursue it here. After a perfunctory disclaimer “Old Testament messianic prophecies quoted in the New Testament” lists several.

According to the note (72) in the NET Acts 3:25b is a quotation from Genesis 22:18. A table comparing the Greek of Peter’s quotation with the Septuagint follows

Acts 3:25b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 22:18a (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 22:18a (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐν τῷ σπέρματι σου [ἐν]ευλογηθήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ πατριαὶ τῆς γῆς	καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς	καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς
Acts 3:25b (NET)	Genesis 22:18a (NETS)	Genesis 22:18a (English Elpenor)
‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’	And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed	And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed

The Greek word translated descendants in the NET (KJV: seed) was σπέρματι (a form of σπέρμα). I bring it up because Paul commented on it (Galatians 3:16 NET):

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant (σπέρματι). Scripture does not say, “and to the descendants (σπέρμασιν, a plural form of σπέρμα),” referring to many, but “and to your descendant (σπέρματι),” referring to one, who is Christ.

Note 36 in the NET cites four references in Genesis. Three of the four were also translated σπέρματι in the Septuagint.

Reference	BLB Septuagint	Elpenor Sptuagint
Genesis 12:7	σπέρματί	σπέρματί
Genesis 13:15	σπέρματί	σπέρματί
Genesis 24:7	σπέρματί	σπέρματί

In context Peter’s thought went from this singular descendant (KJV: seed) to a singular servant (παῖδα, a form of παῖς; KJV: Son).

Here I’ll focus on God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.^[3] The Greek word translated turning was not a form of μετανοέω or a form of ἐπιστρέφω (Acts 3:19 NET):

Therefore repent (μετανοήσατε, a form of μετανοέω) and turn back (ἐπιστρέψατε, a form of ἐπιστρέφω) so that your sins may be wiped out…

It was ἀποστρέφειν (a form of ἀποστρέφω). I can’t help but think that Peter or the Holy Spirit alluded to a then present fulfillment of the prophecy Paul quoted (Romans 11:26, 27 NET):

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion;^[4] he will remove (ἀποστρέψει, another form of ἀποστρέφω) ungodliness from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

According to the note (21) in the NET Romans 11:26, 27a is a quotation from Isaiah 59:20, 21. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with the Septuagint follows:

Romans 11:26b, 27a (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 59:20, 21a (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 59:20, 21a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ρυόμενος, ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ (27) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη	ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιων ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ιακωβ (21) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῗς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη	ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ ᾿Ιακώβ (21) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη
Romans 11:26b, 27a (NET)	Isaiah 59:20, 21a (NETS)	Isaiah 59:20, 21a (English Elpenor)
The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. (27) And this is my covenant with them,	the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob. (21) And this is the covenant to them from me,	the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. (21) And this shall be my covenant with them,

I’ve never understood this quite so clearly. And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake (English Elpenor) the Septuagint reads. That time was past when Paul wrote to those in Rome who believed Jesus: the deliverer had already come for Sion’s sake and Israel in large part (Romans 11:2-5) had rejected Him (Romans 11:11-15 NET).

I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous. Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry [Table], if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? [Table]

Paul changed ἕνεκεν (a form of ἕνεκα), for Sion’s sake, to ἐκ, out of Zion. Since Israel rejected their deliverer/Redeemer/protector He no longer came exclusively for Sion’s sake. For then, in Paul’s present, the Gospel was proceeding out of Zion to the whole world. The Masoretic text reads to Zion, exclusively.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 59:20 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 59:20 (NET)	Isaiah 59:20 (NETS)	Isaiah 59:20 (English Elpenor)
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.	“A protector comes to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” says the Lord.	And the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob.	And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

This deliverer shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (English Elpenor) as confirmed by the Holy Spirit through Paul: he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. But the Masoretes’ revision of the Scriptures according to masorah (“tradition”) limits this Redeemer unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob (Tanakh, KJV), or this protector to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds (NET). In other words, his impact is limited currently to that select subset (Romans 11:5-7) of the whole of Jacob.

And this shall be my covenant with them, said the Lord.^[5] But Paul veered away from the rest of this quote (Isaiah 59:21b English Elpenor):

My Spirit which is upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall never fail from thy mouth, nor from the mouth of thy seed, for the Lord has spoken it, henceforth and for ever.

Since official Israel rejected Jesus (Acts 4:1-4) this promise doesn’t yet apply to all Israel. So Paul and the Holy Spirit reiterated when it will apply: when I take away their sins.^[6]

According to the note (22) in the NET Romans 11:27b is a quotation from Isaiah 27:9. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with the Septuagint follows:

Romans 11:27b (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 27:9b (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 27:9a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν	ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι αὐτοῦ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν	ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ
Romans 11:27b (NET)	Isaiah 27:9b (NETS)	Isaiah 27:9a (English Elpenor)
when I take away their sins.	when I remove his sin,	when I shall have taken away his sin;

Still, the Masoretic text speaks truthfully to contemporary Israel: them that turn from transgression in Jacob (namely, turn from their rejection of Jesus as Messiah) will receive the Redeemer, and He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities,^[7] Peter promised in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The Greek word translated iniquities was πονηριῶν (a form of πονηρία). Matthew recorded the following (Matthew 22:15-21 NET):

Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap [Jesus] with his own words. They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus realized their evil intentions (πονηρίαν, another form of πονηρία) and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus told his disciples: What comes out of a person defiles him. For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil (πονηρίαι, another form of πονηρία), deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly [Table]. All these evils (πονηρὰ, a form of πονηρός) come from within and defile a person.^[8]

As he spoke, a^[9] Pharisee invited^[10] Jesus to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was astonished when he saw that Jesus did not first wash his hands before the meal. But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness (πονηρίας, another form of πονηρία).^[11]

For the love of Christ controls us, Paul wrote of the apostles, since we have concluded this, that^[12] Christ died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.^[13]

The love of Christ was ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ in Greek. Given the way Paul described and defined ἀγάπη (1 Corinthians 13) I think this is shorthand for the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). Surely, it is Christ’s ἀγάπη in the sense that, as Jesus said, The Father and I are one,^[14] and as He prayed, Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me.^[15] But perhaps more to the point for believers, this is Christ’s ἀγάπη in the sense that it is the same love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control^[16] [Table] that “controlled” Jesus.

I used the past tense here only to accentuate the time He walked as a man on earth, rather than to suggest that love no longer controls (συνέχει, a form of συνέχω) Him. So then, if anyone is in Christ, Paul continued (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NET):

he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come [Table]! And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ^[17] and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God (δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ) [Table].

I think the righteousness of God we become is the love of Christ [that] controls us, understood as the fruit of the Holy Spirit. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.^[18]

Tables comparing Isaiah 27:9; 59:20 and 59:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Isaiah 27:9; 59:20 and 59:21 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Acts 3:24; 3:26; Romans 11:26; Luke 11:37; 2 Corinthians 5:14 and 5:18 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 27:9 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 27:9 (KJV)	Isaiah 27:9 (NET)
By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.	By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.	So in this way Jacob’s sin will be forgiven, and this is how they will show they are finished sinning: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand.

Isaiah 27:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 27:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἡ ἀνομία Ιακωβ καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡ εὐλογία αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι αὐτοῦ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὅταν θῶσιν πάντας τοὺς λίθους τῶν βωμῶν κατακεκομμένους ὡς κονίαν λεπτήν καὶ οὐ μὴ μείνῃ τὰ δένδρα αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν ἐκκεκομμένα ὥσπερ δρυμὸς μακράν	διὰ τοῦτο ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἡ ἀνομία ᾿Ιακώβ, καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡ εὐλογία αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅταν θῶσι πάντας τοὺς λίθους τῶν βωμῶν κατακεκομμένους ὡς κονίαν λεπτήν· καὶ οὐ μὴ μείνῃ τὰ δένδρα αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν ἐκκεκομμένα ὥσπερ δρυμὸς μακράν
Isaiah 27:9 (NETS)	Isaiah 27:9 (English Elpenor)
Because of this the lawlessness of Iakob will be removed. And this is the blessing, when I remove his sin, when they make all the stones of the altars broken pieces like fine dust, and their trees will not remain, and their idols will be cut down like a forest far away.	Therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be taken away; and this is his blessing, when I shall have taken away his sin; when they shall have broken to pieces all the stones of the altars as fine dust, and their trees shall not remain, and their idols shall be cut off, as a thicket afar off.

Isaiah 59:20 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 59:20 (KJV)	Isaiah 59:20 (NET)
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.	And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.	“A protector comes to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιων ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ιακωβ	καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ ᾿Ιακώβ
Isaiah 59:20 (NETS)	Isaiah 59:20 (English Elpenor)
And the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob.	And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

Isaiah 59:21 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 59:21 (KJV)	Isaiah 59:21 (NET)
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.	As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.	“As for me, this is my promise to them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 59:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 59:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῗς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη εἶπεν κύριος τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐμόν ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ σοί καὶ τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἔδωκα εἰς τὸ στόμα σου οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματός σου εἶπεν γὰρ κύριος ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα	καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, εἶπε Κύριος· τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐμόν, ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ σοί, καὶ τὰ ρήματα, ἃ ἔδωκα εἰς τὸ στόμα σου, οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματός σου· εἶπε γὰρ Κύριος, ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα
Isaiah 59:21 (NETS)	Isaiah 59:21 (English Elpenor)
And this is the covenant to them from me, said the Lord, my spirit that is upon you and my words that I have put in your mouth shall not fail out of your mouth or out of the mouth of your offspring, for the Lord has said it, from now on and forever.	And this shall be my covenant with them, said the Lord; My Spirit which is upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall never fail from thy mouth, nor from the mouth of thy seed, for the Lord has spoken it, henceforth and for ever.

Acts 3:24 (NET)	Acts 3:24 (KJV)
And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced these days.	Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ προφῆται ἀπὸ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν καθεξῆς ὅσοι ἐλάλησαν καὶ κατήγγειλαν τὰς ἡμέρας ταύτας	και παντες δε οι προφηται απο σαμουηλ και των καθεξης οσοι ελαλησαν και προκατηγγειλαν τας ημερας ταυτας	και παντες δε οι προφηται απο σαμουηλ και των καθεξης οσοι ελαλησαν και κατηγγειλαν τας ημερας ταυτας

Acts 3:26 (NET)	Acts 3:26 (KJV)
God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”	Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὑμῖν πρῶτον ἀναστήσας ὁ θεὸς τὸν παῖδα αὐτοῦ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν εὐλογοῦντα ὑμᾶς ἐν τῷ ἀποστρέφειν ἕκαστον ἀπὸ τῶν πονηριῶν \|ὑμῶν\|	υμιν πρωτον ο θεος αναστησας τον παιδα αυτου ιησουν απεστειλεν αυτον ευλογουντα υμας εν τω αποστρεφειν εκαστον απο των πονηριων υμων	υμιν πρωτον ο θεος αναστησας τον παιδα αυτου ιησουν απεστειλεν αυτον ευλογουντα υμας εν τω αποστρεφειν εκαστον απο των πονηριων υμων

Romans 11:26 (NET)	Romans 11:26 (KJV)
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.	And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ οὕτως πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ σωθήσεται, καθὼς γέγραπται· ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ρυόμενος, ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ	και ουτως πας ισραηλ σωθησεται καθως γεγραπται ηξει εκ σιων ο ρυομενος και αποστρεψει ασεβειας απο ιακωβ	και ουτως πας ισραηλ σωθησεται καθως γεγραπται ηξει εκ σιων ο ρυομενος και αποστρεψει ασεβειας απο ιακωβ

Luke 11:37 (NET)	Luke 11:37 (KJV)
As he spoke, a Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table.	And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐν δὲ τῷ λαλῆσαι ἐρωτᾷ αὐτὸν Φαρισαῖος ὅπως ἀριστήσῃ παρ᾿ αὐτῷ· εἰσελθὼν δὲ ἀνέπεσεν	εν δε τω λαλησαι ηρωτα αυτον φαρισαιος τις οπως αριστηση παρ αυτω εισελθων δε ανεπεσεν	εν δε τω λαλησαι ηρωτα αυτον φαρισαιος τις οπως αριστηση παρ αυτω εισελθων δε ανεπεσεν

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NET)	2 Corinthians 5:14 (KJV)
For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.	For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἡ γὰρ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ συνέχει ἡμᾶς, κρίναντας τοῦτο, ὅτι εἷς ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀπέθανεν, ἄρα οἱ πάντες ἀπέθανον	η γαρ αγαπη του χριστου συνεχει ημας κριναντας τουτο οτι ει εις υπερ παντων απεθανεν αρα οι παντες απεθανον	η γαρ αγαπη του χριστου συνεχει ημας κριναντας τουτο οτι ει εις υπερ παντων απεθανεν αρα οι παντες απεθανον

2 Corinthians 5:18 (NET)	2 Corinthians 5:18 (KJV)
And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.	And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ καταλλάξαντος ἡμᾶς ἑαυτῷ διὰ Χριστοῦ καὶ δόντος ἡμῖν τὴν διακονίαν τῆς καταλλαγῆς	τα δε παντα εκ του θεου του καταλλαξαντος ημας εαυτω δια ιησου χριστου και δοντος ημιν την διακονιαν της καταλλαγης	τα δε παντα εκ του θεου του καταλλαξαντος ημας εαυτω δια ιησου χριστου και δοντος ημιν την διακονιαν της καταλλαγης